‘Positive momentum’ for easyJet

EasyJet are reporting a positive outlook as CEO Carolyn McCall prepares to make way for her successor. She said that “easyJet delivered a robust performance during a difficult year for the aviation industry”.

EasyJet has seen record numbers of passengers choosing the airline in 2017, perhaps due to the recent troubles of rival airlines. This year has seen the end of Monarch Airlines and Air Berlin. Italy’s Alitalia is also facing serious financial difficulties. Ryanair has cancelled more than 20,000 flights in the wake of its staffing crisis. Even British Airways has reportedly been struggling to win back trust after an IT failure earlier this year. As McCall said, this is “all very good news for easyJet” who can look to capitalise on new opportunities.

Shares rose the most for three years on Tuesday morning and revenue per seat is expected to increase in the next six months by a low to mid-single digit percentage. The outlook appears to be optimistic and McCall said: “The first half is looking extremely positive and that is a direct result of the dislocations in the market”. She continued on to say that “easyJet’s model is resilient and sustainable and we now have a huge amount of positive momentum which will enable the airline to grow profitably.”

Eyes at the airline are definitely focussed on the future and some of its ambition can be seen in the acquisition of part of Air Berlin’s operations at Berlin’s Tegel airport. It has been reported that it is also bidding for some of Alitalia’s business.

This is McCall’s last week at the airline. She has been CEO at easyJet since 2010 when she moved from Guardian Media Group. She is now returning to the world of media with a move to ITV. She makes way for Johan Lundgren, a former Tui director, who will start on December 1.